Mobile machine

ABSTRACT

Among other things, generating a dynamic digital data file for transferring to a mobile communication device includes receiving from a user a phone number associated with a mobile communication device. Also, a user selected digital data file is received. Authorization to access the received digital data file is verified. When detected that the received digital data file is verified as an authorized file, the user is able to edit the received digital data file to generate mobile content. A data connection with the mobile communication device associated with the received phone number is also established. Further, one or more operational parameters of the mobile communication device based on the established data connection are determined. The generated mobile content is transcoded into a format compatible to the determined operational parameters, and the transcoded mobile content is delivered to the mobile communication device.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 11/752,503, filed on May 23, 2007, entitled MobileMachine, which takes priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 60/817,567, filed on Jun. 28, 2006, the entire contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference, both of which priority isclaimed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject matter described herein relates to the selection andcreation of dynamic content and delivery of the created dynamic contentto a mobile communication device.

BACKGROUND

Mobile communications devices, such as cellular telephones, areincreasingly being utilized to provide content to users. However, userstypically are not able to dynamically modify the content beforereceiving the content. Moreover, such information often is not optimizedbased on one or more operational parameters associated with the mobilecommunication device.

SUMMARY

Techniques for selecting and generating a dynamic digital data file tosend to a mobile device are described.

In one aspect, a desired digital data file is transferred to a targetmobile communication device by allowing a user to dynamically generatemobile content based on the desired digital data file. A phone numberassociated with a mobile communication device is received from a user. Auser selected digital data file is received and loaded onto an editor,and the received digital data file is verified for authorization toaccess the received file. When detected that the received digital datafile is verified as an authorized file, the user is able to edit theverified digital data file to generate a mobile content. Also, a dataconnection is established with the mobile communication deviceassociated with the received phone number. Based on the established dataconnection, one or more operational parameters of the mobilecommunication device is determined. Based on the determined operationalparameters, the generated mobile content is transcoded into a formatcompatible with the determined operational parameters. The transcodedmobile content is delivered to the mobile communication device.

Implementations may optionally include one or more of the followingfeatures. Establishing the data communication can include sending amessage to the mobile communication device. The message sent to themobile communications device can include a pointer to informationcomplementary to the desired content. When the pointer is activated atthe mobile communications device, one or more operational parametersassociated with the mobile communications device may be determined.Based on the determined operational parameters, data associated with thedesired content is transmitted to the mobile communications device in aformat compatible with the determined one or more operationalparameters. Also, based on the received phone number, a wireless networkcarrier corresponding to the phone number is identified. When thewireless network carrier is identified, a user account associated withthe phone number can be identified. The identified wireless networkcarrier and the user account can be used to verify a billingauthorization for transferring a digital data file.

Implementations can also optionally include one or more of the followingfeatures. Verifying the authorization to access the received digitaldata file can include using a digital rights management technology toverify accessibility of the received digital data file. Verifyingauthorization to access the received digital data file using a digitalrights management technology can include using message-digestedalgorithm 5 (MD5) hash function to determine whether the receiveddigital file is an authorized file. Verifying authorization to accessthe received digital data file can further include comparing thereceived digital data file against a catalog of authorized digital datafiles stored in a database. Verifying authorization to access thereceived digital data file can include using a filter to deny access toa predetermined type of file. Loading a digital data file can beaccomplished using a drag-and-drop operation. Alternatively, the desireddigital data file can be found by using a Windows® Explorer typegraphical user interface. Determining one or more operational parameterscan include choosing from a group including a wireless data transportprotocol, a hardware configuration of the mobile communication device, asoftware execution platform for the mobile communications device, and asoftware application resident on the mobile communications device.

Implementations can also optionally include one or more of the followingfeatures. The digital data file may include an audio file, an imagefile, and a video file, which can be used to create a ringtone, a wallpaper image and a video clip respectively. Also, the mobilecommunication device can be polled to determine the one or moreoperational parameters. Alternatively, a communication header may beused to identify the one or more operational parameters.

The subject matter described in this specification can be implemented asa method or as a system or using computer program products, tangiblyembodied in information carriers, such as a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, asemiconductor memory, and a hard disk. Such computer program productsmay cause a data processing apparatus to conduct one or more operationsdescribed in this specification.

In addition, the subject matter described in this specification can alsobe implemented as a system including a processor and a memory coupled tothe processor. The memory may encode one or more programs that cause theprocessor to perform one or more of the method acts described in thisspecification.

The subject matter described in this specification may provide one ormore of the following advantages. For example, only the phone numberassociated with a target mobile communication device is needed from auser in order to deliver a desired content to the target mobilecommunication device. When a data connection is made with the mobiledevice, appropriate operational parameters of the target mobilecommunication device is determined. Therefore, the user is not requiredto have detailed knowledge of his/her mobile communication device.

Further features, aspects, and advantages will become apparent from thedescription, the drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a system for transferring a digital datafile to a mobile communication device.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram of a digital file manager.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a process for transferring a digital data fileto a mobile communication device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a transfer of a digital datafile to a mobile communications device.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E are illustrative representations of agraphical user interface for transferring a digital audio file to amobile communication device.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative representation of a graphical user interfacefor transferring a digital image file to a mobile communication device.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following describes techniques for transferring digital files to amobile communication device. In particular, a desired digital file isloaded onto a media editor using drag-and-drop and edited to generatedesired mobile content. A data connection is established with the mobilecommunication device to determine appropriate operational parameters ofthe mobile device. Based on the determined operational parameters, thegenerated content is transcoded into a format compatible with the mobilecommunication device. The transcoded content is transferred to themobile communication device using a messaging technology such as shortmessage service (SMS), multimedia message service (SMS), etc.

FIG. 1A shows a system 100 for transferring a digital file (or a digitaldata file) to a mobile communication device. The system 100 comprises adigital file manager 110 in communication with a mobile communicationdevice 120 and a wireless network carrier 130. The digital file manager110 further comprises a digital file editor 112, a wireless networkcarrier identification unit 114, and a data connection unit 116. Thedigital file manager 110 may be implemented as an independent softwareexecuting on a computing device, such as a personal computer or othersuitable devices. In some implementations, the digital file manager 110may be implemented as an embedded Active X component located on a webpage. For example, the digital file manager 110 may be implemented usinga dynamic link library module (DLL). In some implementations, othersuitable web based object oriented programming mechanisms (e.g., JAVA)can be implemented to be compatible with both Windows based platform andApple Mac based platform. The system 100 can optionally include adatabase for maintaining a catalog of authorized digital data files(e.g., images, videos, audios, etc.)

FIG. 1B illustrates additional components/features of the system 100.The digital file manager 110 also includes a input unit 150 and anoutput unit 160. The input unit 150 includes a mechanism for receivinginput from a user or a computing system. For example, a graphical userinterface (GUI) is implemented to receive input information necessary totransfer a desired digital data file to a target mobile communicationdevice. The GUI is implemented to receive a telephone number associatedwith the target mobile communication device. Using the receivedtelephone number, operational parameters of the target mobilecommunication device (e.g., type of mobile communication device, awireless data transport protocol, a hardware configuration of the mobilecommunication device, a software execution platform for the mobilecommunications device, and a software application resident on the mobilecommunications device) is determined once the data connection unit 116makes a data connection with the mobile communication device. Based onthe determined operational parameters the desired content is transcodedinto a format compatible with the target mobile device. Transcoding is aprocess of direct digital-to-digital conversion from one format toanother. The data connection unit 116 is designed to either handle thetranscoding process itself or communicate with a optional transcoder 118to request completion of the transcoding process. In someimplementations, the digital file editor performs the transcodingprocess. Thus, the functions performed by the digital file manager isnot necessarily localized to individual units and can be performed byone or more of the components. Individually or jointly.

In addition, the GUI is implemented to receive a user selected digitaldata file to be edited, from which a mobile content is generated. Theoutput unit 160 includes a mechanism for displaying information to theuser. For example, a display area can be implemented to preview the userselected digital data file as the file is selected edited. This allowsthe user to see the final version of the created mobile content beforethe content is transferred to the target mobile communication device.

FIG. 2 illustrates a process for transferring a digital file to a mobilecommunication device. A user enters a phone number associated with amobile communication device (e.g., a cellular phone) at 210, and basedon the phone number entered, a wireless network carrier associated withthe phone number is identified. For example, the wireless networkcarrier includes Verizon Wireless, Cingular (AT&T), T-Mobile, Sprint,etc. Identifying the wireless network carrier allows a determination ofthe wireless user account associated with the phone number and verifiesa payment method to effectuate data transfer through the wirelessnetwork. Depending on the wireless network carrier, the payment methodmay be either directly to the wireless network carrier or a separatepayment processing mechanism.

At 220, a user selects a desired digital file and loads it onto thedigital file editor 112 for processing the selected digital file beforetransferring the file to the mobile communication device 120. Thedigital file includes an audio file, an image file, a video file or anysuitable data file desired to be transferred to the mobile communicationdevice 120. While there is no limitation on the type of data file thatmay be transferred, the user may desire to select the digital file basedon the capabilities of the mobile communication device to process thetransferred digital file. For example, a smart phone (e.g., the Treo® byPalm®) may be designed to received Microsoft® Software based documents(e.g., Word®, Excel®, etc.), Adobe® Software based documents (e.g.,Acrobat®), etc. Further, the digital file editor 112 is designed torecognize the various types of digital data files (e.g., an image file,an audio file, a video file, etc.) Thus, a single digital file editor isdesigned to receive, edit and transfer the various types of digital datafiles.

The selected digital file is verified for authorization to access thefile at 230. This is performed using any one of various Digital RightsManagement (DRM) technologies to prevent illegal access, duplication,transfer, etc. of protected digital files. Any one of the several wellknown DRM technologies can be implemented to enforce pre-definedpolicies for controlling access digital data such as music, images,videos, and software. One such DRM technology is Message-Digestalgorithm 5 (MD5) hash function. MD5 is a cryptographic has functionwith a 128 bit has value. An MD5 has function is typically a32-character hexadecimal number. For example, an MD5 hash function isused to maintain a database (e.g., 140) of authorized digital files(e.g. a catalog of authorized files), and when a user loads a digitalfile, the loaded digital file can be compared against the database todetermine whether the loaded digital file is an authorized file. Anauthorized file can be a ringtone that has been properly licensed fromthe owner, for example. The DRM function is used to prevent transfer ofpirated digital data and allow only those digital data legally purchasedto be transferred.

In some implementations, verifying the authorization to access theselected digital file includes a filtering function. A filter can beused to deny access to a predetermined type of digital data file. Forexample, a pornographic or otherwise obscene image is recognized as notsuitable for processing by the system 100. When a user selects anobscene file (image, video, audio, etc.), the digital file manage 110accesses a catalog of authorized files stored in the database 140 toobtain a suitable alternative files. The recommended alternate files aredisplayed to the user.

In some implementations, a user is allowed to select user generatedcontent. A user generated content, such as a photograph taken by theuser is not part of the DRM system, and in order to allow such notauthorized or not licensed files, a cap can be set to allow apredetermined maximum number of such files to be selected, loaded andtransferred to the user's mobile device.

When the selected digital data file is detected to be an authorized file(or otherwise a user generated file within the predetermined cap), theuser is allowed to edit the selected digital file using the digital fileeditor 112 to generate a desired mobile content at 240. When theselected digital data file is detected to be not authorized, the accessto the selected digital data file is denied at 235. A message to thateffect can to displayed to the user (e.g., “authorization to access theselected file has not been verified.”) In addition, the user can beinstructed to select another or alternate digital data file. Forexample, when the user selects an obscene (e.g., a pornographic image)image, the denial of access may be followed by a display of alternateimages that are present in a catalog of authorized files.

The generated content is transferred to the mobile communication device120 by sending a message to the mobile communication device 120. Messagesent to the user can be performed by using various message systems suchas short message service (SMS), multimedia message service (MMS), etc.Once a data connection is made with the mobile communication device 120at 250, the operational parameters corresponding to the mobilecommunication device is determined at 260. For example, a dataconnection can be made once the user receives a notification of the sentmessage on the mobile communication device. Alternatively, dataconnection can be made once the user receives the message itself. Basedon the determined operational parameters, the generated content istranscoded into a format compatible with the mobile communication deviceat 270. For example, a SMS message is a text only messaging technologythat can include a pointer to information complementary to the generatedcontent. This pointer, when activated (and/or when data associated withthe pointer is sought) by the mobile communications device 120, causesone or more operational parameters associated with the mobilecommunications device to be determined so that data associated with thegenerated content may be transmitted (after transcoding the generatedcontent into a format compatible with the mobile communication device)to the mobile communications device in a format compatible with thedetermined one or more operational parameters. Alternatively, thegenerated content is attached directly to a MMS message. The transcodedcontent is delivered to the user at 280. For example, when a SMS messageis used, the link included in the SMS message allows the user todownload the generated content, which has been transcoded to a properformat based on the determined operational parameters of the mobiledevice.

In some variations, the operational parameters might include: differenttransport technologies (CDMA, GMS, GPRS, EdVO, etc.), different mobiledevices (Sony Ericsson, Samsung, Nokia, etc.), software executionplatforms (Java, Brew, IDEN, MMS, etc.), and the like. The operationalparameters may be determined, for example, by a header included in thecommunication from the mobile communication device 120 when the useractivates the pointer. In some implementations, the operationalparameters may be determined by having a server associated with theservice being provided poll the mobile communications device todetermine one or more of the parameters.

The operational parameters may also be determined based on, for example,the telephone number of the mobile communications device. In somevariations, a user may access a website or complete an off-lineregistration process with a service provider in which one or more of theoperational parameters are provided. Thereafter, when the user entersthe telephone number of the mobile communication device into the digitalfile manager 110, a database associated with a plurality of users may bepolled using the telephone number in order to determine a proper formatto convey the data associated with the content to the mobilecommunications device. Alternatively, a user may also specify that inlieu of transmission to the mobile communications device, other deliveryoutlets for the data may be utilized such as an e-mail address or apostal address (which would entail sending brochure, CD, video, and thelike to the user).

In some variations, the operational parameters are determined usingother mechanisms, such as those described in a copending U.S. PatentApplication No. 60/890,821 (entitled, “Automatic Provisioning ofAbbreviated Dialing Codes.) For instance, when a user initiates atelephone call form a mobile communication device, a telephone signal isreceived by a wireless service provider and the received signal isprocessed using signal system #7 (SS7), a set of telephony signalingprotocols. SS7 provides a universal structure for telephone networksignaling, messaging, interfacing, etc. SS7 is used to establish a call,exchange user information, call routing, different billing structure,and supports Intelligent Network (IN) services. SS7 can also be used toidentify operation parameters associated with the mobile device and/orthe user.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram 300 of data communicationsbetween the digital file manager 110 executing on a personal computer310 and the mobile communication device 120. For example, a useroperating the personal computer 310 invokes the digital file manager110, either as a stand alone software or as an embedded software module(e.g., an embedded Active X component). A desired digital file isselected and edited using the digital file editor 112 to generate adesired digital content. The generated content is transferred to a firstserver 330 over the intern& 320 (A-B). The First server 330 is operableto send a message to the mobile communications device 120 containing apointer to data associated with the content via a wireless data network340 (C-D). The message may be sent using text messaging such as shortmessage service (SMS), multi-media message service (MMS) or othersuitable data transfer mechanisms (A-B).

After receiving this message, the mobile communications device 120 maybe operable to seek or otherwise request the data identified by thepointer via the Internet 320 (E-B). (or other data communicationsnetwork) from a second server 350 (E-F). The second server 350 may thenbe operable to determine one or more operational parameters associatedwith the mobile communications device 120 once a data connection ismade. Once the operational parameters are determined, the second server350 can provide, or cause to be provided (e.g., by another server), thedata identified in the pointer to the mobile communications device 120in a format (i.e., after being transcoded to a proper format) compatiblewith the one or more determined operational parameters.

FIGS. 4A-E illustrates a process for transferring an audio file to amobile communications device 120 using a digital file manager 110implemented as a stand alone software. A user invokes the digital filemanager 110 to execute on a person computer. At a user interface 410,the user may enter a telephone number of the mobile communication deviceas shown in FIG. 4A. As described above, the telephone number may beused to identify the wireless network carrier associated with thetelephone number.

A user interface 420 as shown in FIG. 4B represents one implementationof the digital file editor 112. The user interface 420 may include anaudio file display area 412, an audio file load button 414, an audiofile play button 416, and a make ringtone button 418.

As shown in FIG. 4C, the user selects and loads a desired digital file(in this example, an MP3 audio file) in one of two ways. The user maydrag and drop 420 an MP3 file 422 from the source location 424 onto theaudio file display area 412. Alternatively, the user may interact withthe load audio file button 414 to select an load an audio file. Once anaudio file (e.g., an MP3 file) has been selected and loaded, for examplevia drag and drop 420, a visual indication 426 of the MP3 file beingloaded onto the digital file editor 112 is provided in the audio filedisplay area 412. The visual indication 426 comprises a left channel 428and a right channel 430 visual indicators to differentiate the left andright channels of a stereo audio data.

FIG. 4D illustrates a process of changing a time scale component for theMP3 file loaded. When the MP3 file is loaded initially, the visualindication 426 represents a compacted time scale to visualize all of theMP3 audio file data without needing to scroll across the audio filedisplay area 412. The time scale can be expanded to show only a portionof the MP3 audio file on the audio file display area 412. A time scaleindicator 432 shows that only a portion of the MP3 audio file isdisplayed. To scroll to a differ portion of the MP3 audio file, a usersimply uses a mouse pointer to move 436 the time scale indicator 432 asshown on the bottom figure of FIG. 4D. The size of the time scaleindicator 432 is inversely proportionate to the amount of the MP3 audiofile indicated on the audio file display area 412 (i.e., smaller thesize of the time scale indicator, more of the MP3 audio file isdisplayed).

FIG. 4E illustrates a user select a desired portion of the MP3 audiofile loaded on the digital file editor 112. A user uses a mouse pointerto highlight 438 the desired portion 440 of the MP3 audio file. Thehighlighted portion is the desire digital content to be transferred tothe mobile communication device 1120. To verify that the desired portionhas been selected, a user may interact (for example via a mouse click)with the audio file play button 416 to play the highlighted portion 440.A user selection of the make ringtone button 418 initiates a transfer ofthe highlighted portion 440, for example via SMS, to the mobilecommunication device 120 as described in FIGS. 1-3 above.

As shown in FIG. 5, the user interface 420 is further capable ofallowing a user to selecting an image file 460 from a source 458 usingdrag and drop 462 and loading the image file 460. Alternatively, theuser may select the desired image file 460 from the source 458 by usingthe load image button 452. When the user drag and drop an image file 460onto an image display area 456, the selected image file 460 isautomatically displayed for the user to preview.

Various image processing and editing is possible using the userinterface 420. For example, the user may edit the selected image forcolor, size, brightness, contrast, etc. The image may also be rotated,cropped, and compressed. Other suitable image processing or editingfunctions are within the scope of the present disclosure.

Once the selected image 460 has been edited as desired by the user, theedited image file becomes the desire digital mobile content ready to betransferred to the mobile communication device 120. A user selection ofthe make wallpaper button 454 initiates a transfer of the desireddigital content via a message system such as SMS, MMS, etc. as describedin FIGS. 1-3 above.

The user interface 420 can further include capabilities to allow a userto select, load, edit, and transfer other data files including a videofile (not shown). A desired video file can be selected and loaded usingdrag and drop or by interacting with a graphical user interface such asa button, a menu, or a tab. The loaded video file may be edited by theuser as desired to create a desired video content. For example, aparticular portion of the loaded video file can be selected similar tothe process described for editing an audio file. In addition, othersuitable video editing functions may be incorporated into the userinterface 420, such as video compression.

In some implementations, the digital file manager 110 may be implementedas an embedded component such as an Active X DLL module in a web page.Digital files located on or linked to the web page can be transferred tothe mobile communication device 120 by the processes described in FIGS.1-3 above.

Various implementations of the subject matter described herein may berealized in digital electronic circuitry, integrated circuitry,specially designed ASICs (application specific integrated circuits),computer hardware, firmware, software, and/or combinations thereof.These various implementations may include implementation in one or morecomputer programs that are executable and/or interpretable on aprogrammable system including at least one programmable processor, whichmay be special or general purpose, coupled to receive data andinstructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a storagesystem, at least one input device, and at least one output device.

These computer programs (also known as programs, software, softwareapplications or code) include machine instructions for a programmableprocessor, and may be implemented in a high-level procedural and/orobject-oriented programming language, and/or in assembly/machinelanguage. As used herein, the term “information carrier” comprises a“machine-readable medium” that includes any computer program product,apparatus and/or device (e.g., magnetic discs, optical disks, memory,Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs)) used to provide machine instructionsand/or data to a programmable processor, including a machine-readablemedium that receives machine instructions as a machine-readable signal,as well as a propagated machine-readable signal. The term“machine-readable signal” refers to any signal used to provide machineinstructions and/or data to a programmable processor.

To provide for interaction with a user, the subject matter describedherein may be implemented on a computer having a display device (e.g., aCRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor) fordisplaying information to the user and a keyboard and a pointing device(e.g., a mouse or a trackball) by which the user may provide input tothe computer. Other kinds of devices may be used to provide forinteraction with a user as well; for example, feedback provided to theuser may be any form of sensory feedback (e.g., visual feedback,auditory feedback, or tactile feedback); and input from the user may bereceived in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input.

The subject matter described herein may be implemented in a computingsystem that includes a back-end component (e.g., as a data server), orthat includes a middleware component (e.g., an application server), orthat includes a front-end component (e.g., a client computer having agraphical user interface or a Web browser through which a user mayinteract with an implementation of the subject matter described herein),or any combination of such back-end, middleware, or front-endcomponents. The components of the system may be interconnected by anyform or medium of digital data communication (e.g., a communicationnetwork). Examples of communication networks include a local areanetwork (“LAN”), a wide area network (“WAN”), and the Internet.

The computing system may include clients and servers. A client andserver are generally remote from each other and typically interactthrough a communication network. The relationship of client and serverarises by virtue of computer programs running on the respectivecomputers and having a client-server relationship to each other.

Although a few variations have been described in detail above, othermodifications are possible. For example, the logic flow depicted in theaccompanying figures and described herein do not require the particularorder shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Inparticular, the determination of one or more parameters regarding thecontent may be determined during the initialization of the phone call.In addition, complementary information may be directly delivered to themobile communications device in a compatible format (as opposed to apointer). Other embodiments may be within the scope of the followingclaims.

A number of implementations of the disclosure has been described.Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may bemade without departing from the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: providing, by a firstcomputing system including one or more servers via a communicationsnetwork, a graphical user interface at a second computing system, thegraphical user interface (i) prompting and enabling a user of the secondcomputing system to provide a phone number associated with a mobilecommunication device, the mobile communication device being separate andremote from the first computing system and the second computing system,(ii)prompting and enabling the user of the second computing system toselect a digital file, and (iii) enabling the user of the secondcomputing system to edit the selected digital file to create mobilecontent; receiving, by the first computing system from the secondcomputing system via the communications network, the mobile content andthe phone number associated with the mobile communication device;wherein using the received phone number to cause the delivery of thetranscoded mobile content to the mobile communication device isperformed without the mobile communication device identifying the one ormore operational parameters to the first computing system or the secondcomputing system; transcoding, by the first computing system, the mobilecontent received from the second computing system based on a formatcompatible with one or more operational parameters of the mobilecommunication device to generate transcoded mobile content, the one ormore operational parameters including at least one of a mobilecommunication device type and a software platform type; and using, bythe first computing system, the phone number received from the secondcomputing system to cause the delivery of the transcoded mobile contentto the mobile communication device via a wireless data network.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: sending a message to the mobilecommunication device including a pointer to information complementary tothe generated mobile content; and determining the one or moreoperational parameters associated with the mobile communication devicein response to the pointer being activated at the mobile communicationdevice.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: identifying awireless network carrier corresponding to the received phone number;identifying a user account associated with the phone number based on theidentified wireless network carrier; and verifying a billingauthorization for the identified user account.
 4. The method of claim 1,further comprising verifying authorization to access the digital fileusing a digital rights management (DRM) technology to verifyaccessibility of the digital file.
 5. The method of claim 4, whereinverifying the authorization to access the digital file comprises using amessage-digested algorithm 5 (MD5) hash function to determine whetherthe digital file is an authorized file.
 6. The method of claim 1,further comprising verifying authorization to access the digital file bycomparing the digital file against a catalog of authorized digital filesstored in a database.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprisingverifying authorization to access the digital file using a filter todeny access to a predetermined type of file.
 8. The method of claim 1,wherein selection of the digital file comprises the user using adrag-and-drop operation through the graphical user interface.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the one or more operational parametersconsist of the software platform type.
 10. The method of claim 2,wherein the message is sent using at least one of a short messagingservice technology and a multimedia message service technology.
 11. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface enables the userof the second computer system to edit the digital file to create asample of a portion of the digital file to create a ringtone.
 12. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the digital file comprises at least one ofimage data, video data, and audio data.
 13. The method of claim 1,wherein the graphical user interface enables the user of the secondcomputer system to edit the digital file by cropping an image of thedigital file to create a wallpaper image file.
 14. The method of claim1, wherein the graphical user interface enables the user of the secondcomputing system to upload the digital file to the second computingsystem.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interfaceenables the user of the second computing system to edit the digital fileby selecting frames of a video file to create a clip of the video file.16. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium and executable by a first computingsystem to perform operations comprising: providing, by the firstcomputing system via a communications network, a graphical userinterface at a second computing system, the graphical user interface (i)prompting and enabling a user of the second computing system to providea phone number associated with a mobile communication device, the mobilecommunication device being separate and remote from the first computingsystem and the second computing system, (ii) prompting and enabling theuser of the second computing system to select a digital file, and (iii)enabling the user of the second computing system to edit the selecteddigital file to create mobile content; receiving, by the first computingsystem from the second computing system via the communications network,the mobile content and the phone number associated with the mobilecommunication device; wherein using the received phone number to causethe delivery of the transcoded mobile content to the mobilecommunication device is performed without the mobile communicationdevice identifying the one or more operational parameters to the firstcomputing system or the second computing system; transcoding, by thefirst computing system, the mobile content received from the secondcomputing system based on a format that is compatible with one or moreoperational parameters of the mobile communication device to generatetranscoded mobile content, the one or more operation parametersincluding at least one of a mobile communication device type and asoftware platform type; and using, by the first computing system, thephone number received from the second computing system to cause deliveryof the transcoded mobile content to the mobile communication device viaa wireless data network.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the firstcomputing system is further configured to: identify a wireless networkcarrier corresponding to the received phone number; identify a useraccount associated with the phone number based on the identifiedwireless network carrier; and verify a billing authorization for theidentified user account.
 18. The system of claim 16, wherein the firstcomputing system is further configured to: send a message to the mobilecommunication device including a pointer to information complementary tothe mobile content; and determine the one or more operational parametersassociated with the mobile communication device in response to thepointer being activated at the mobile communication device.
 19. Thesystem of claim 16, wherein the first computing system is furtherconfigured to verify authorization to access the digital file using adigital rights management (DRM) technology.
 20. The system of claim 19,wherein the digital rights management (DRM) technology comprises amessage-digested algorithm 5 (MD5) hash function.
 21. The system ofclaim 16, wherein the first computing system is further configured tocommunicate with a database to compare the digital file against a listof authorized digital files stored in the database.
 22. The system ofclaim 16, wherein the first computing system is further configured toenable the user of the second computing system to select the digitalfile using a drag-and-drop operation through the graphical userinterface.
 23. The system of claim 16, wherein the first computingsystem is further configured to verify authorization to access thedigital file by using a filter to deny access to a predetermined type offile.
 24. The system of claim 16, wherein the one or more operationalparameters consist of the software platform type.
 25. The system ofclaim 16, wherein the digital file comprises an audio file.
 26. Thesystem of claim 25, wherein the mobile content comprises a ringtone. 27.The system of claim 16, wherein the digital file comprises an imagefile.
 28. The system of claim 27, wherein the mobile content comprises awallpaper image file.
 29. The system of claim 16, wherein the digitalfile comprises a video file.
 30. The system of claim 29, wherein themobile content comprises a clip of the video file.
 31. A computerprogram product embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium and executable by a first computing system to perform operationscomprising: providing, by the first computing system via acommunications network, a graphical user interface at a second computingsystem, the graphical user interface (i) prompting and enabling a userof the second computing system to provide a phone number associated witha mobile communication device, the mobile communication device beingseparate and remote from the first computing system and the secondcomputing system, (ii) prompting and enabling the user of the secondcomputing system to select a digital file, and (iii) enabling the userof the second computing system to edit the selected digital file tocreate mobile content; receiving, by the first computing system from thesecond computing system via the communications network, the mobilecontent and the phone number associated with the mobile communicationdevice; wherein using the received phone number to cause the delivery ofthe transcoded mobile content to the mobile communication device isperformed without the mobile communication device identifying the one ormore operational parameters to the first computing system or the secondcomputing system; transcoding, by the first computing system, the mobilecontent received from the second computing system based on a format thatis compatible with one or more operational parameters of the mobilecommunication device to generate transcoded mobile content, the one ormore operation parameters including at least one of a mobilecommunication device type and a software platform type; and using, bythe first computing system, the phone number received from the secondcomputing system to cause delivery of the transcoded mobile content tothe mobile communication device via a wireless data network.
 32. Thecomputer program product of claim 31, further executable to: send amessage to the mobile communication device comprising a pointer toinformation complementary to the mobile content; and determine the oneor more operational parameters associated with the mobile communicationdevice in response to the pointer being activated at the mobilecommunication device.
 33. The computer program product of claim 31,further executable to perform operations comprising: identifying awireless network carrier corresponding to the received phone number;identifying a user account associated with the phone number based on theidentified wireless network carrier; and verifying a billingauthorization for the identified user account.
 34. The computer programproduct of claim 31, further executable to verify authorization toaccess the digital file using a digital rights management (DRM)technology.
 35. The computer program product of claim 34, whereinverifying the authorization to access the digital file using the digitalrights management (DRM) technology comprises using a message-digestedalgorithm 5 (MD5) hash function.
 36. The computer program product ofclaim 31, further executable to communicate with a database to comparethe digital file against a list of authorized digital files stored inthe database.
 37. The computer program product of claim 31, furtherexecutable to verify authorization to access the digital file by using afilter to deny access to a predetermined type of file.
 38. The computerprogram product of claim 31, further executable to enable the user ofthe second computing system to use the graphical user interface toupload the digital file to the second computing system using adrag-and-drop operation.
 39. The computer program product of claim 31,wherein the one or more operational parameters consist of the softwareplatform type.
 40. The computer program product of claim 31, furtherexecutable to load a digital file comprising an audio file.
 41. Thecomputer program product of claim 40, wherein the mobile contentcomprises a ringtone.
 42. The computer program product of claim 31,further executable to load a digital file comprising an image file. 43.The computer program product of claim 42, wherein the mobile contentcomprises a wallpaper image file.
 44. The computer program product ofclaim 31, further executable to receive a digital file comprising avideo file.
 45. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein themobile content comprises a clip of the video file.
 46. The computerprogram product of claim 31, further executable to poll the mobilecommunication device to determine the one or more operationalparameters.
 47. The computer program product of claim 31, furtherexecutable to perform operations comprising: identifying a user accountassociated with the phone number; and verifying a billing authorizationfor the identified user account.
 48. The computer program product ofclaim 31, further executable to perform operations using an embeddedActive X component.
 49. The computer program product of claim 48,wherein the embedded Active X component comprises a dynamic link librarymodule.
 50. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more operationalparameters are received from the mobile communication device at thefirst computing system via a data connection.
 51. The system of claim16, wherein the one or more operational parameters are received from themobile communication device at the first computing system via a dataconnection.
 52. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein theone or more operational parameters are received from the mobilecommunication device at the first computing system via a dataconnection.
 53. The system of claim 16, wherein the transcoded mobilecontent is delivered to the mobile communication device using at leastone of a short messaging service technology and a multimedia messageservice technology.
 54. The computer program product of claim 31,wherein transcoded mobile content is delivered to the mobilecommunication device using at least one of a short messaging servicetechnology and a multimedia message service technology.
 55. The methodof claim 1, wherein the second computing system comprises a personalcomputer.
 56. The system of claim 16, wherein the second computingsystem comprises a personal computer.